Laurence Sherwood wrote:

>My question is do Wagner's non-musical writings contain any concerted
>animus toward the French? If so, could you direct me to them (in English
>translation)? And if not, why would you think his ugly depiction of the
>non-German was a veiled reference to the French? His writings do, of course
>reflect his vicious anti-Semitism, but I am unaware of anything comparable
>directed toward the people of France.  I woul Thus, while I know of no
>writings by Wagner displaying hostility towards the French (for whom,
>however, I believe he had little love), the specific reference to matters
>"welsch" in Sachs' admonition against foreign influences, would appear to
>be directed at French influences.

Welsch in this context is likely anti-French, though fundamentally
it just means "foreign."(except in Switzerland where it almost always
connotes French).  France was the cultural powerhouse of continental Europe
at the time, and it was its influence that the values of the Hans Sachses
of an ascendant Germany had to contend with.  Wagner's collected literary
output runs to 10 volumes and it must contain, here and there, stabs at
the French.  For instance in 1861 a performance of Tannhaeuser, specially
translated into French and produced at the Paris Opera at extraordinary
expense, was broken up by a hostile claque of the Paris Jockey Club.The
reasons for this were political --I disremember the deeper specifics.
Anyway, the furor ruined the opera's reception by the public.  It ran
only three times and then closed down, entailing for Wagner considerable
financial loss, along with great aggravation.  I'd be surprised if
something in his writings didn't refer with rancor to this episode.

Denis Fodor